our history

For fifty years, NOYO has brought first-class music education to the youth of northern Ohio.

The Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra was founded in 1969 as the Lorain County Youth Orchestra. It has been in continuous operation at the Oberlin Conservatory ever since, earning independent 501(c)(3) status in 1982. Notable past conductors include Michael Christie, Music Director of the Minnesota Opera; Jeannette Sorrell, Music Director of Apollo’s Fire; James Feddeck, former Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra; Steven Smith, Music Director of the Richmond Symphony; Timothy Weiss, director of the Oberlin Conservatory Contemporary Music Ensemble; and Robert Spano, Music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.